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Cornish Tin

Cornwall is justly proud of its ancient tin industry that began nearly 4,000 years ago during the Bronze Age. Cornish Tin was mined by our Celtic ancestors and exported to Europe and the Middle East where it was used in making weapons and tools. Nowhere in the world was tin mining so ingrained into the local culture as in Cornwall, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Our tin products represent an important part of Cornish history. They also contain Cornish tin that was recovered from the seabed after 150 years. The SS Liverpool sank off Anglesey in 1863 carrying a cargo of tin ingots which had been smelted at Chyandour, Penzance. These ingots were dated 1862 and stamped with the lamb and flag mark that was commonly used in those days as a symbol of purity. One hundred and thirty eight years later the first cargo of Cornish tin ingots was raised off the seabed from the wreck. We clean the barnacles and other encrustations off these ingots and then melt them down to make the items in the Cornish Tin Collection, which is 100% shipwreck tin. Traditionally, tin is given as a gift for a 10th wedding anniversary.